Closure



Jun 21, 1966 w. H. ROBINSON 3,257,022

CLOSURE Filed 001:. 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 INVENTOR 30 F 5 mum/wRam/501v ATTORNEY June 21, 1966 w. H. ROBINSON 3,257,022

CLOSURE Filed Oct. 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 Z/ INVENTOR F y 9 7g 9WILL/AM H. ROBINSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,257,022 CLOSUREWilliam H. Robinson, New Vienna, Ohio Filed Oct. 19, 1964, Ser. No.404,720 3 Claims. (Cl. 215-46) This invention relates to a re-usableplastic container closure and has as its primary object the provision ofa container closure preferably comprised of plastic which includes a topand an offset skirt portion as well as a tightly engaging skirt portion,the latter being provided with a removable tear strip, and a hinge sothat the container closure may, after removal of the tear strip, berepositioned on the container and effectively close the same.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a containerclosure of this character which may be opened with a minimum of effortand subsequently reclosed when the contents of the container are onlypartially used.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a containerclosure of this character which may be simply and inexpensivelymanufactured.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a containerclosure of this nature which is sturdy and durable in construction, andwhich will reliably and effectively relcose a container after the tearstrip has been removed.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangementsof parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fullypointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of the container closure of the instantinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the closure of FIGURE l,'shown asapplied to a container, portions thereof being broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing -a' constructionaldetail on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a constructional detail disclosedin FIGURE 3;-

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view showing the closureafter removal of the tear strip, and showing a further constructionaldetail;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the closure removed from thecontainer as viewed from the side opposite that of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the container closure applied to acontainer and in open position after removal of the tear strip; and,

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 taken from the oppositedirection.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the container closure of theinstant invention is generally indicated at 10 and includes a circulartop 11, which may be provided with an annular shoulder 12 forming adepressed center portion 13 and a slightly raised rim 14. An annularskirt 15 depends from rim 14, and includes an upper outwardly offsetportion 16 which is spaced by means of an internal rib 17 from the outerside wall of the container 18. An inwardly and downwardly inclinedportion 19 connects offset portion 16 with a lowerskirt portion 20,which closely engages the side wall of the container 18. At its bottomedge lower skirt portion 20 is provided with a head or flange 21.

Lower skirt portion 20 is provided with a pair of annular spacedparallel score lines 22 and 23, the upper score line being immediatelyadjacent the juncture of ice lower portion 20 with inwardly anddownwardly inclined portion 19, and the lower score line 23 beingimmediately adjacent the head or flange 21. On one side of the closurethe upper score line is provided with a downwardly extending arcuateindentation 24, which when the score lines are severed by removal of thetear strip formed thereby defines a tab 25 which adheres to thedownwardly and inwardly inclined portion, which,

as will be hereinafter pointed out, defines the removable portion of theclosure.

Diametrically opposite the indentation 24 the spaced parallel scorelines 22 and 23 terminate in vertical score lines 26 and 27, whichbetween them define an unscored portion 28 which serves in a manner tobe hereinafter described as a hinge.

Overlying the hinge portion 28 is an outwardly bowed or oifset arcuateplastic strip 30, which at one end 31 is firmly secured to the spacebetween the score lines 22 and 23, which defines in itself a tear strip32. The opposite end of strip 30 terminates in a generally cylindricalhead 33, which is lightly adhered, as by a drop of adhesive 34, to theside of the tear strip 32.

From the foregoing the use and operation of the device should now bereadily understandable. The container 18 is packed and the unitaryclosure 10 is positioned thereon, with the lower skirt portion 20affording a tight seal to protect the contents. The flange 21, may, ifdesired, be suitably sealed to the exterior of the container, to retainthe contents in sealed or airtight condition. When access to thecontainer is desired, the head 33 is engaged by the fingernail torelease the grip of the adhesive 34 and the bowed strip 30 is pulledoutwardly, until a firm grip may be secured thereon by the fingers. Thetear strip 32 defined by the score lines 22 and 23 is then torn in anannular direction, or clockwise as shown in the illustration, the scoreline following the indented portion 24 leaving the tab 25 on the sideopposite the initial position of the strip 30. The tearing starts at oneend of the tear strip as defined by the vertical score line 26, andcontinues until the opposite score line 27 is reached, whereupon thestrip is torn oif along this vertical line leaving the hinge tab 28. Thecontainer closure may then be lifted by means of the tab 25 to theposition shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, and the contents of the container, orpart thereof, readily removed. When it is desired to re-close thedevice, the closure is simply pushed downwardly, and the ofiset upperportion 16 of the skirt and its inwardly extending flange 17 willrelatively tightly engage the outer rim of the container to seal thesame, thus leaving a hinged lid, which may be re-opened numerous times,until the contents of the container are exhausted. 1

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved plastic container closure which accomplishes all of the objectsof this invention,

and others, including many advantages of great practical utility andcommercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beintertion adapted to closely engage the outer wall of the container,said lower portion having a pair of spaced parallel annular score linesdefining a tear strip, the uppermost of said pair of score lines beinglocated adjacent to the juncture of said inclined portion with saidlower portion, said tear strip having a protruding portion defining afinger grip and comprising an outwardly offset arcuate plastic stripintegral with said tear strip at one end and having a bead at its otherend lightly adhered to the tear strip. a

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said score lines are broken to leavean unscored strip beneath said oifset arcuate plastic strip, saidunscored strip being defined at its ends by score lines perpendicular tothe annular score lines and extending between the annular score lines,whereby when the tear strip is removed said unscored strip serves as ahinge.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the upper of said pair of scorelines is provided with an arcuate indentation opposite said hinge,whereby when the tear 'strip is removed an arcuate finger tab remainssecured to said inwardly and downwardly inclined portion.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 103,069 10/1962Netherlands.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK; Assistant Examiner.

1. A PLASTIC CONTAINER CLOSURE INCLUDING A TOP AND A RELATIVELY DEEPSHIRT ADAPTED TO SURROUND THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE TOP OF A CONTAINER,SAID SKIRT INCLUDING AN UPPER OUTWARDLY OFFSET PORTION HAVING ANINTERNAL ANNULAR RIB ADAPTED TO SPACE SAID OFFSET PORTION FROM THE OUTERSIDE OF THE CONTAINER AND CONNECTED BY AN INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLYINCLINED PORTION TO A LOWER PORTION ADAPTED TO CLOSELY ENGAGE THE OUTERWALL OF THE CONTAINER, SAID LOWER PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF SPACEDPARALLEL ANNULAR SCORE LINES DEFINING A TEAR STRIP, THE UPPERMOST OFSAID PAIR OF SCORE LINES BEING LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE JUNCTURE OF SAIDINCLINED PORTION WITH SAID LOWER PORTION, SAID TEAR STRIP HAVING APROTRUDING PORTION DEFINING A FINGER GRIP AND COMPRISING AN OUTWARDLYOFFSET ARCUATE PLASTIC STRIP INTEGRAL WITH SAID TEAR STRIP AT ONE ENDAND HAVING A BEAD AT ITS OTHER END LIGHTLY ADHERED TO THE TEAR STRIP.